STRESS POSITIONS (2024) REVIEW

"Stress Positions" takes us on a wild, Lysol-spraying ride back to the early days of COVID-19, where the characters are as sophisticated as they come. Terry's determination to protect himself and his Moroccan model nephew, Bahlul, from the outside world reaches absurd heights, making you wonder if his paranoia is contagious. With a cast of characters so irritatingly self-absorbed, you'll find yourself torn between laughter and fleeing the theater.

John Early shines as Terry, whose antics include banging pots and pans in support of frontline workers while maintaining his latest rant. Theda Hammel as Karla adds a dash of humor with her attempts to befriend Bahlul, using her dubious Mediterranean heritage as a ploy. Meanwhile, Vanessa, played by Amy Zimmer, laments her childhood surrounded by "blondes," oblivious to her own privileged ignorance.

But halfway through, the film hits a snag, drowning in too many plot threads and repeated punchlines. It's like watching a Blake Edwards-style farce gone wrong, where the characters' self-absorption becomes more grating than amusing. 

Yet, amidst the chaos, Bahlul quietly steals the show with his subtle commentary on the absurdity of it all. His deadpan reactions serve as a hilarious reminder that these characters aren't nearly as special as they think.

"Stress Positions" might leave you feeling like you need a stress position of your own to endure it, but it's worth it for Bahlul's dry wit alone. If only the film had focused more on his perspective and less on the chaotic mess of smug obnoxiousness, it could have been a comedic gem instead of a comedic headache.